poem#21

I am midway across the river
Along its two banks are two worlds
made in love and hate
truth and lies
joy and despair.

The tide is thick
beneath the clear waters
pebbles bleed my feet;
                          I need to cross!

Ah, who comes by?
O majhi bhi in canopy boat, which side of the river  do you come from?
Will you ferry me across-
though I know not which side?

"I am the child of the water
by water I live
in water I live."

Ah! How do you spend your days?
                                  Your summers?
                                  Your winters?
                                  Your springs?
                                  Your autumns?

"People come and people go
but I go on for ever!
I cross beneath half a hundred iron bridges a day
I ferry half a hundred  people
I pass by half a hundred fields of hay
I cruise with every ripple.

I have the sun by day
the moon by night
and half a million stars in sight;
come storm or calm
through thick and thin
I fish by my rod
and sing in my shade
and life is as prfound as could be made.

Hop in.There is room for one in the shade
and you can make a fishing rod of the lever
men may come and and men may go
But we must go on for ever."

And my world?
"Who says you need it?"